The next steps

Yesterday, Jenny and I accompanied my mom to her appointment with a radiation doctor. We were told by her that mom has about a dozen tumors in her brain that are just under a centimeter in diameter as well as some much smaller ones. Those tumors are the reason why mom's balance and memory have both been off (resulting in her having a little difficulty walking and much more talking). Hard news to hear, but (as it is good to remember in these times) it could always be worse. Because the tumors are smaller, radiation will most likely be effective. Not effective in prolonging her life, but in maintaining a quality of life that doesn't involve imbalance and the inability to communicate without frustration.

She starts radiation today (in less than an hour actually) and will go in for what is a ten minute radiation session for the next 10 days (not counting weekends). We all went out for a burger after the somberness that was her appointment. It was a refreshing change. We are going to do as much as we can with her in whatever time we have left. The doctors at the cancer center said yesterday that making it through the holidays is a realistic goal. I, personally am taking it one holiday at a time, and am not counting Halloween or Veteran's Day.

Mom is taking all of this the best she can, but the totality of yesterday's findings have done their part to stifle her determination and crush her spirit. At least temporarily. She is happy in her new home. She is happy to have time with Jenny and I and her friends. She is still eating, still maintaining a weight that far exceeds what she had most of her life, and is still pressing on into a scary unknown. The reality of the situation is replacing the idealistic optimism that she had for beating the cancer and living "another 20 years". She is still optimistic though. Her timeline of goals has just shrank considerably. I can say for my part that I have never been more anxious for the holidays to arrive.

Mom has a CT Scan on Thursday to see how the cancer is behaving in the rest of the body and we will find out those results the following Monday when we meet with the doctor. If anyone would like to send cards or letters, Mom's address is
2106 SE 130th Ave, Vancouver, WA 98683.
Please write c/o Nora Roberts on the envelope as she has five other people living in the house with her.


Thank you all for your thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement. Now more than ever they are needed and appreciated.

Pat